Circulation is one of the most important elements in architecture and urban planning because of it allows connecting spaces inside and between buildings besides it refers the way people move through and interact with a building. Circulation is of high important in public buildings it is key to have a floor plan that allows continuous movement while minimizing the necessity to retrace one's steps, allowing a visitor to see each work in a sequential and natural fashion. There are two types of circulation; the horizontal circulation, it frequently determines the basic shape and character of the entire structure for example corridor and railing; the vertical circulation is those which furnish means for progress one level to another for example ramps, stairs, escalators and elevators.
The Salt Lake City Library is a very good example of circulation in both types.
The horizontal circulation starts in the outsides of the library, where we find great walkways connecting the streets and green spaces that there are surrounding to the area. These paths are connected to each other through of a square for then lead to the library’s main entrance. In terms of vertical circulation outside to the building, there are stairways to reach the top of the building where there is a private terrace allowing you to observe the landscape surrounding the building.
Once inside the building, we can see a large and wide hall which distributes to the users to the different activities taking place here like art gallery, copy center, auditorium, meeting rooms and much more. About vertical circulation, we find stairs in the north to the building and others in the main hall side, both stairways connect the five floors that the library has. Furthermore it has three elevators that allow connecting the first until the fifth floor; they are placed next to the stairs to the main hall. Inside the building, we have corridors cross the main hall connecting side to side the reading room with the rest of the building.
Finishing, we have that the circulation is a very important aspect to consider in the moment that an architect and urban planner decide to design something. Because it permit establishing the relationship between people and spaces and it generates a sensation of form to the entire structure or city that we want to design.
Salt Lake Library's Circulation
Circulation is one of the most important elements in architecture and urban planning because of it allows connecting spaces inside and between buildings besides it refers the way people move through and interact with a building. Circulation is of high important in public buildings it is key to have a floor plan that allows continuous movement while minimizing the necessity to retrace one's steps, allowing a visitor to see each work in a sequential and natural fashion.
There are two types of circulation; the horizontal circulation, it frequently determines the basic shape and character of the entire structure for example corridor and railing; the vertical circulation is those which furnish means for progress one level to another for example ramps, stairs, escalators and elevators.
The Salt Lake City Library is a very good example of circulation in both types.
The horizontal circulation starts in the outsides of the library, where we find great walkways connecting the streets and green spaces that there are surrounding to the area. These paths are connected to each other through of a square for then lead to the library’s main entrance. In terms of vertical circulation outside to the building, there are stairways to reach the top of the building where there is a private terrace allowing you to observe the landscape surrounding the building.
Once inside the building, we can see a large and wide hall which distributes to the users to the different activities taking place here like art gallery, copy center, auditorium, meeting rooms and much more. About vertical circulation, we find stairs in the north to the building and others in the main hall side, both stairways connect the five floors that the library has. Furthermore it has three elevators that allow connecting the first until the fifth floor; they are placed next to the stairs to the main hall. Inside the building, we have corridors cross the main hall connecting side to side the reading room with the rest of the building.
Finishing, we have that the circulation is a very important aspect to consider in the moment that an architect and urban planner decide to design something. Because it permit establishing the relationship between people and spaces and it generates a sensation of form to the entire structure or city that we want to design.